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- admin@agprimary.org.uk
This policy aims to ensure that:
Intimate care refers to any care that involves toileting, washing, changing, touching or carrying out an invasive procedure to children’s intimate personal areas
This policy complies with statutory safeguarding guidance
Definition of Intimate Care:
Intimate Care is any care which involves washing, touching, changing or carrying out an invasive procedure that younger children are not developmentally able to do independently, for example:
The provision of personal care may be routine in the EYFS setting for some of the youngest children who have not yet been fully toilet trained. It is also part of the routine care for some children with a disability. However, the need for personal care occurs from time to time for other children in the school.
The following are the fundamental principles of intimate care upon which our policy guidelines are based:
Every child has the right:
Seeking parental permission
For children who need routine or occasional intimate care (e.g. for toileting or toileting accidents), parents/carers will be asked to sign a consent form
For children whose needs are more complex or who need particular support outside of what’s covered in the permission form (if used), an intimate care plan will be created in discussion with parents/carers (see section 3.2 below)
Where there isn’t an intimate care plan or parental consent for routine care in place, parental permission will be sought before performing any intimate care procedure
If the school is unable to get in touch with parents/carers and an intimate care procedure urgently needs to be carried out, the procedure will be carried out to ensure the child is comfortable, and the school will inform parents/carers afterwards
Creating an intimate care plan
Where an intimate care plan is required, it will be agreed in discussion between the school, parents/carers, the child (when possible) and any relevant health professionals
The school will work with parents/carers and take their preferences on board to make the process of intimate care as comfortable as possible, dealing with needs sensitively and appropriately
Subject to their age and understanding, the preferences of the child will also be taken into account. If there’s doubt whether the child is able to make an informed choice, their parents/carers will be consulted
The plan will be reviewed twice a year, even if no changes are necessary, and updated regularly, as well as whenever there are changes to a pupil’s needs
Sharing information
The school will share information with parents/carers as needed to ensure a consistent approach. It will expect parents/carers to also share relevant information regarding any intimate matters as needed
Which staff will be responsible?
Any roles who may carry out intimate care will have this set out in their job description.
All staff at the school who carry out intimate care will have been subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a barred list check before appointment, as well as other checks on their employment history. Students and volunteers are not permitted to be involved in intimate care.
How staff will be trained
Staff will receive:
• Training in the specific types of intimate care they undertake
• Regular safeguarding training
• If necessary, manual handling training that enables them to remain safe and for the pupil to have as much participation as possible
They will be familiar with:
• The control measures set out in risk assessments carried out by the school
• Hygiene and health and safety procedures
They will also be encouraged to seek further advice as needed.
They will be familiar with:
How procedures will happen
Intimate care procedures will be carried out in the medical room with a member of staff present, who has communicated to another member of staff that the procedure is taking place.
It should be recorded when an intimate care procedure has taken place, using Meditracker to log the details.
When carrying out procedures, the school will provide staff with protective gloves, cleaning supplies, changing mats and bins.
For pupils needing routine intimate care, the school expects parents/carers to provide, when necessary, a good stock (at least a week’s worth in advance) of necessary resources, such as nappies, underwear and/or a spare set of clothing.
Any soiled clothing will be contained securely, clearly labelled, and discreetly returned to parents/carers at the end of the day.
Details of the procedure can be found in the appendices.
Concerns about safeguarding
If a member of staff carrying out intimate care has concerns about physical changes in a child’s appearance (e.g. marks, bruises, soreness), they will report this using the school’s safeguarding procedures
If a child is hurt accidentally or there is an issue when carrying out the procedure, the staff member will report the incident immediately to a first aider and the Designated Safeguarding Lead
If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, the responsibility for intimate care of that child will be given to another member of staff as quickly as possible and the allegation will be investigated according to the school’s safeguarding procedures
This policy will be reviewed by Harsha Patel. At every review, the policy will be approved by the governing board
This policy links to the following policies and procedures:
Procedure for undressing and dressing pupils – after soiling/getting clothes wet/dirty:
(Where a child is heavily soiled or in distress the parent/carer will be phoned and given the option of coming to school to change their child)
Ensure:
• You have told another member of staff that you are involved in an intimate care procedure
This takes place away from others, but that doors a left ajar
• Ensure you are wearing disposable gloves and a disposable apron
• Encourage the child to remove clothing from lower body first and to do it independently. Provide help or assistance only when, and if needed
• Wash/clean as required – again encourage the child to do this independently using wet wipes.
• Ensure lower regions are covered before removing garments from upper body (if necessary)
• Give the child the clean clothes (either provided by the parents/carers, or where these are not present lend them some clothes from the Nursery)
• Encourage the child to dress themselves. Provide help and assistance as appropriate/required.
• Put the wet or soiled clothes in a plastic bag and ensure the child takes them home at the end of the session. Where appropriate we will speak to the parents as well.
• Child must then wash their hands, with soap or gel
Remove gloves and apron and wash your hands. Dispose of these in the appropriate bin
• IMPORTANT – Record the care given. A second member of staff must also be named to show that they knew the care took place
Procedure for changing nappies / pull ups:
(Where a child is heavily soiled or in distress the parent/carer will be phoned and given the option of coming to school to change their child)
Ensure:
• You have told another member of staff that you are involved in an intimate care procedure
• This takes place away from others, but that doors a left ajar
• Ensure you are wearing disposable gloves and a disposable apron.
• Remove clothes from the child’s lower body, or provide help if they do can do it independently.
• Take off the nappy while the child is standing
• Wipe away the mess using wipes provided. It may be possible to encourage the child to do this for themselves.
• Ensure the skin is clean and dry.
• Put on a clean nappy (using a changing mat) or pull up (whilst child is standing). Check that it fits snugly around the waist and legs.
• Dress the child or allow them to dress themselves if they are able to.
• Ask the child to wash their hands.
• Ensure that the soiled nappy is put in a nappy sack or plastic bag and dispose of the nappy using the appropriate bin
• Dispose of gloves and apron
• Wash your hands with soap, encourage child to wash their hands too
• Record and let parents know that X’s nappy was changed today X times at …am/pm by X.